Aces Series: Flush of Cards

The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, the kind that lingered after a heavy downpour in the dense forests surrounding the King family's secluded mansion. Keiran Murphy’s feet crunched softly on the gravel path leading up to the grand estate, the mansion looming like a dark sentinel in the middle of nowhere. It was an imposing structure, ancient in its beauty, with iron gates that seemed to swallow anyone who dared approach. But Keiran wasn’t here for the mansion’s beauty or its architecture. He was here on business. Keiran, a self-made businessman with a sharp mind and even sharper instincts, had no illusions about the darkness that thrived within the black market. It was a world he had carefully avoided, despite its allure. His company, a legitimate one dealing in high-end technology, operated in the shadows of the market, but he’d always been careful not to cross lines he couldn't return from. However, his curiosity had brought him to this remote estate tonight. He had received a tip—a whisper that the King family, one of the most notorious syndicates in the country, was involved in more than just the typical arms trade. Human trafficking, illegal organs, and much worse. It was a tip he couldn’t ignore. The forest surrounding the mansion was eerily quiet as Keiran made his way toward the back of the estate. The moonlight filtered through the trees in slivers, casting long shadows that danced across the path. He didn’t know what he was expecting, but he certainly hadn’t anticipated what he stumbled upon. At the back of the mansion, there was a discreet, somewhat dilapidated garage with a few high-end cars parked outside. The door was slightly ajar, and Keiran, ever the cautious observer, approached it slowly. He had always been meticulous about his work, taking calculated risks but never acting without thinking. From inside the garage, the faint murmur of voices reached his ears. He paused, then crouched down, peeking through a crack in the door. What he saw made his stomach churn. Three men stood in a circle, one of them holding a thick file, the others listening intently. Keiran recognized two of them immediately. Javier Castillo, a towering, muscle-bound bodyguard with a reputation for brutality, was one. The other was a man he’d only seen once or twice in the press, a notorious criminal mastermind known as Viper. The third man, however, was the one who would change everything for Keiran. Machiavelli Hunter King. Keiran’s breath caught in his throat as he watched the man. He had heard of Machiavelli—the infamous head of the King family, a name whispered in fear across the country. A ruthless businessman with a reputation for doing anything to expand his power. His cold, calculating demeanor was known to send chills down even the most hardened criminals' spines. The men were speaking in hushed tones, but Keiran’s sharp ears caught the crucial parts of the conversation. “… organs—no more excuses. We need them delivered tonight. The buyers won’t wait much longer, Machiavelli,” Viper’s voice growled, his words heavy with menace. Machiavelli didn’t even flinch at the demand. “I know. The shipments are coming in. You’ll have them by tomorrow, as promised. And don’t forget… p*****t is due.” The mention of “shipments” and “p*****t” made Keiran’s pulse quicken. He didn’t need to hear more. His mind raced as he processed the gravity of what he was hearing. Human trafficking. Illegal organ trade. The King family was deep into something far worse than he had ever imagined. He had been prepared to gather information, but the sheer scale of the operation was beyond anything he had expected. Keiran quickly reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out his phone. He had to document this. This was too valuable, too dangerous to ignore. He snapped a few pictures of the men as discreetly as he could, the camera’s flash barely visible in the dim light. Then, he began to take notes. Names, operations, dates—the details were important. He couldn’t afford to miss anything. His hand shook slightly as he wrote. The temptation to leave and report this to the authorities was overwhelming, but something held him back. This wasn’t just about exposing them; this was about survival. If he left now, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t catch him. The men inside were far too dangerous to risk angering. Keiran’s heart pounded in his chest as he prepared to leave, but just as he turned to make his escape, a sudden sound froze him in his tracks. The creak of the door swinging open. A shadow loomed in front of him. Javier Castillo. "Thought you could sneak away unnoticed?" Javier's voice was like gravel, low and menacing. Before Keiran could react, the bodyguard’s massive hand gripped his arm, pulling him into the garage with ease. “Get in. Now,” Javier commanded, his grip tightening as Keiran struggled against him. Keiran's mind raced. He couldn’t let them catch him. He had to get away. But the man's strength was overwhelming, and Keiran found himself being dragged toward the group of men inside the garage. Viper grinned as he saw Keiran. “Well, well. Looks like we’ve caught ourselves a little spy.” His smile was cold, the kind of smile that made Keiran’s blood run cold. Machiavelli, however, didn’t immediately react. He studied Keiran with a calculated gaze, his eyes sharp and unblinking. Keiran felt a chill run down his spine under that intense stare. “What do we have here?” Machiavelli finally spoke, his voice smooth but filled with a quiet danger. “Another fool who thinks he can play in our world?” Keiran remained silent, his mind racing. He had to think fast. The risk of being caught was great, but the information he had could bring down the King family. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If he played it right, he could turn the tables. “I’m not a spy,” Keiran said, his voice steady despite the fear rising in his chest. “I was just passing by. I heard you talking, and I thought... I thought maybe I could help.” Machiavelli’s lips curled slightly at the edges, as though he were amused. “Help? How does one help the King family, exactly?” Keiran’s mind spun for a believable excuse. He had to convince them that he wasn’t a threat, that he could be useful to them. “I have connections. I deal in high-end technology. Information is power. I can provide you with intel, if that’s what you need. I could be useful to you. To the family.” For a moment, the room was silent. Viper and Javier exchanged glances, and Keiran could feel their suspicion growing. But Machiavelli didn’t immediately react. Instead, he studied Keiran with that cold, calculating gaze that seemed to pierce through him. After what felt like an eternity, Machiavelli spoke again. “You’re not getting out of here. Not until I decide what to do with you.” Keiran’s heart sank. He had been too bold, too reckless. He had underestimated the danger he was in. Javier moved toward a nearby wall, pulling out a set of keys. “This way,” he muttered. Without another word, he opened a door and shoved Keiran inside a small, windowless room. The door slammed shut behind him, and the lock clicked into place with an ominous finality. Keiran sank to the floor, his back against the cold stone wall. His thoughts raced. He had just gotten himself trapped in the heart of the King family’s operation, and there was no way out. Not now. Javier's voice echoed from outside the door. “You’ll stay in here until we figure out what to do with you. No funny business. Try to escape, and I’ll make sure you regret it.” Keiran didn’t answer. He couldn’t. His mind was already working, searching for any possible way out. But as the reality of the situation sank in, he knew it would take more than just wit to escape this. It would take something far darker—something he wasn’t sure he was ready to become. The mansion felt like a tomb. Keiran had heard rumors of the King family's operations before, but nothing had prepared him for the brutal reality of what lay beneath the surface. In this world, there were no second chances, and survival was a matter of power, loyalty, and deception. As the hours stretched into an agonizing silence, Keiran couldn’t help but wonder if he’d just made the biggest mistake of his life. And if he had, would he even survive to regret it?